Vasilopita - Greek Saint Basil’s New Year's Cake
8
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A very traditional Greek Cake that celebrates the life of Saint Basil. Usually served at New Year, it is quick and delicious at any time.
- Ready In:
- 55mins
- Serves:
- Units:
Nutrition Information
8
People talking
ingredients
- 1 cup butter, plus
- 1 tablespoon butter, for greasing cake pan
- 2 cups white sugar, plus
- 2 tablespoons white sugar, for sprinkling
- 3 cups flour
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup warm milk
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄4 cup blanched slivered almond
directions
- Clean! Silver or gold coin wrapped in aluminum foil (a quarter works well).
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 10 inch round cake pan with 1 Tbs butter.
- In a medium bowl, cream the cup of butter and 2 cups of sugar together until light in color. Stir in the flour and mix until the batter resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the eggs one at a time, blending each one in well.
- In a small bowl combine the baking powder and milk, add to the cake batter and mix well. Finally combine the lemon juice and baking soda in a small bowl, add to the cake batter and mix well. Pour the cake batter in to the greased cake pan, insert the foil wrapped coin, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the cake from the oven, sprinkle the nuts and 2 Tbs sugar over the cake, then return the cake to the oven and bake for a further 20-30 minutes until the cake springs to the touch. Allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes then invert the pan on to a cake plate.
- Ideally the cake should be served warm; each person gets a slice of the cake starting with the most senior member. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church believe that whoever gets the coin is blessed.
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A very interesting recipe. Baking powder with milk combined - first time I see this combination in a recipe. I decided to make 2 smaller 8" round pans rather than the one 10" pan and added a bit more flour and milk for this difference. Baked very well. I did not remove mid-way to add the sugar and almonds rather baked for about 40 minutes. It is delicious! A Healthy and Happy 2021 to everyone!
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Delicious and easy! My family preferred it to the traditional vasilopita bread. I added: 1 t vanilla, 1 t anisette, 1 T brandy (maybe a little more...), grated peel from one Meyer lemon. Yum!
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I added: 1 tsp vanilla + grated Meyer lemon peel from one lemon + 1 tsp. anisette + 1 T brandy. Yum!
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Bake for 1 hour @ 350 degrees. Knife did not come out clean after 40 minute baking time. I added an additional 20 minutes which completed the baking time. A piece for each person and one for the house. We look forward to this every New Year's Day.
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I made this lovely cake and it was terrific!!! I put the sugar and almonds in two of the three pitas and the two I put the sugar burnt a bit on top but the other was moist and delicious. I'm still giving this recipe a 5 star because the cake without sugar was amazing. Kalh xronia
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